Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-24
M1isteliameuns &eadiuq.
AN HISTORIC ISLAND,

W1sffllanfons @eaa1a9'
AN HISTORIC ISLAND.
History that has recorded the romances
and intrigues Of Blennerhasset Island
will soon have to devote another page to
the disappearance of the celebrated isle
itself. For many years the sandy soil has
been succumbing slowly, but surely, to
the waters, and every successive rise in
the Ohio has reduced the size Of the plot
more and more; but very lately it has
met with its worst disaster. Running
south into about the center the river has
cut q channel which has now caused an
| immense washout almost directly in the
middle of the island. An immense eXca-
walton has thus been created, and there are
signs of similar holes appearing in other
parts of the farm. One of the three gran
gers residing there is trying hard to sell
his property. He is about frightened off.
Steamboat captains tell their passengers
Of the fate with which other islands have
met, and in pointing out the sites of lost
land, predict the entire swallowing up of
Blennerhassett's before many years have
passed away. Only the other day ves-
sci steaming towards Pittsburg caught on
the branches of a tree which had .been
undermined at the edge of the island,
and had hard tussle to get away unin-
jured. AS if prophetic of its doom, the
crops Of the island are poorer this year
than ever before; and it has always been
regarded as the most valuable agricultural
property in West Virginia.
Perhaps no spot on the Ohio has such an
interesting history as Blennerhassett's
Island. Itslore is that of the nation itself.
1t was here that Aaron Burr's treachery
was practically checked, and the triumph
of that even is mellowed by the sadness
of the fall of the poor old man Blenner-
hassett-the dupe of Burr. Over GEN.
tury ago this gentleman settled on the is
land, building himself delightful resi-
dence, and ever afterward dispensing most
elegant hospitality. Herman Blenner-
hassett was born in 1869 in England. He
was bred to the law in Ireland, but sold his
estate in that country for more than $780,
600, and came to the United States. After
remaining in New York short time he
emigrated to the west and took up the
island, which is just few miles south of
Parkersburg, w. Va.
Here it was that Aaron Burr interested
him in his scheme for seizing Mexico,
where, in case of success, Burr was to
be Emperor. Theodosia Alston, Burr's
daughter, was to be Empress. Blenner-
hassett expended large sums in fitting out
an expedition, and, though discouraged
when he learned Of Burr's designs, the in
triguer had such influence with Blenner-
hassett's wife that the old man still ad-
hered to him. After becoming thorough
ly interested in Burr's visionary enter
prise, Blennerhassettt took him over to the
town of Marietta, Ohio, for the purpose of
purchasing supplies for the voyage.
At the counting-house of Dudley, Wood
bridge & Co., he left memorandum of
such provisions as he wanted. They in
cluded pork, flour, whisky, bacon and kiln
dried meal. They also made contract
with this firm for the building of fifteen
boats. They were to be on the Schenecta-
dy model, such as were then used on the
Mohawk river. Only eleven of the boats
were completed. These were built on the
Muskingum river about seven miles above
Marietta, and were to be delivered on the
9th of December, 1906. At that date fur
ther work was interrupted by the militia,
who, discovering Burr's plans, took pos
session of the boats. The days following
were lively times on Blennerhassett's ISL
and, Burr and Blennerhassett both having
to 60 heavily armed to protect themselves
against suspicious citizens. When later
on they both fled to Cincinnati and the
South, Mrs. Blennerhassett showed her
loyalty to her husband by sending her
trustworthy servant, Peter Taylor, after
the old gentleman to bring him back.
Blennerhassett was arrested in 1907 and
held for trial as traitor, but Burr's ac-
quittal set all suspected people free. His
beautiful island and home had been sacri-
feed to creditors, and he went to Natchez
a bankrupt. He undertook cotton plan
tation, but the war with England ruined
commerce, and he then removed to Mon
treal, where he practiced law. In 1922 he
went to Ireland, but here he failed to se-
cure certain property and continued to fail
in every project he undertook. In the
last years of: his life he was supported by
his sister, who had left y small estate to
his wife and children. Blennerhassett had
married the daughter of Governor Ag-
new, of the Isle of Man.-Baltinaore Home
Journal.